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Hi, first-time poster here. I'm driving a 2005 Honda Civic (standard tranny).

I've read a lot of threads on people who are having similar issues, but I thought I'd add some more specifics here that I haven't seen others mention.

Anyhow, when I am starting in first-gear, sometimes as I'm accelerating the car hesitates a bit. Now, this doesn't happen all the time. I don't think it ever happens in the summer when it's usually dry. Also, it doesn't happen until the car has warmed up.

I took the car to my mechanic the other day, but of course - he couldn't reproduce the problem. It seems like it does it only when it wants to. I should mention that this only happens in 1st gear and none other.

My guess is that something is getting wet that shouldn't be - perhaps the distributer or something. Problem is, I know just about nothing when it comes to cars. Ask me to fix your computer - no problem, but not your car

I would appreciate any suggestions anyone would like to give.

Cheers.

 
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does it only happen in first gear?

 
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Our cars don't have distributors like the 2000 and older Civics do. They got replaced by individual coilpacks in 2001 when they came out with the D17.

 
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To answer the first question - YES, it absolutely only happens in 1st gear (which mystifies me).

 
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See what I mean? I know diddly-squat even about my own car!

 
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That's all right man, we're all here to learn. I'll think about the prob and post up some more later.

 
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i have the same problem..its the clutch disk. that is, only if you have the same problem as me. How do you pull out? Cuz if you dont give it smooth power and peddal it to pull out, you are creating hard surfaces on the clutch disk by slipping the clutch. It is heating certain parts up more than others, therefor causing hard and soft surfaces. when it heats up, the hard surfaces on the clutch disk made it slip, then it catches on the soft spots, then hard, then soft. causing the stutter, just change the way yyou drive it, and once it wears a lttle more then you will be fine.

 
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I see what you're saying here. But things brings a couple of questions to mind if it were the case:

- why then does it only happen while I'm in first-gear?
- why does it not happen when the weather is warm and dry?
- why does it only happen once the car has been completely warmed up? (and it still doesn't happen every time - even this morning when I was driving it was fine)

 
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Thats what she said!!!

 
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To answer your questions,

1. Because you only pull out in 1st, its under the heavy load while pulling out.
2. The clutch disk is warm, therefor the hotspots are more present.
3. Same answer as above, basically the clutch is warmed up.

Mine does it too, like this mornin it was like 30 out on my way to school, and it did it. But yesterday it was like 10 and it wouldnt do it cuz it was too cold lol.

And to 02BLKCIVIC...that made me lol..lol.

 
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Ok, I appreciate your replies, but my second questions was why does it NOT happen during warm/dry weather. You would think the car would warm up faster and that the hotspots would be more present. Isn't there a contradiction here?

 
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oh oh sorry, i thought you said why does it happen in hot weather. sorry man, sounds like what im explaining and have. i dont know.

 
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No problem at all - I really appreciate that you're trying to help.

 
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I have the same issue, except in mine, weather is not realy a factor, it occurs most often in stop and go traffic and is horrible when I go up to the mountains/ steep hills. I thought it might be the way I drive, but I've tried different techniques and it all turns out the same.

 
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Yes!! That happens to me too! If I drive in stop-and-go traffic in Toronto it almost always happens. Hopefully this gives another hint as to what the problem may be.

 
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So, may I safely assume that this remains an unresolved issue that nobody is quite sure how to address?

Cheers.

 
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Thought I would give this thread a bump to see if there are any new insights.

 
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Yep, mine does the same. Does matter if it's hot or cold, but only happens in the morning. I've just given up trying to figure it out.

 
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I noticed this for the first time yesterday on my 04 Civic Si (Canadian model) I was thinking it was only happening because it was really hot here yesterday, but from what you guys are saying it's not temperature dependent. I wonder what the case really is!?

 
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It happened to me more when it was cold (new years eve in vegas was like 45 degrees outside and I live in SoCal. That's relatively cold for me)

This isn't a car problem, it is a DRIVER problem. We're all not smoothly engaging the clutch and that creates uneven surfaces. The results are a lot more unforgiving in cooler temperatures. Mostly people will just deal with it.

If this is happening in hot weather only, I'd say check your clutch for contamination from a leaky rear main or input shaft seal.